The Miami University RedHawks football team brought in 20 freshmen in this year’s recruiting cycle. The new freshman class looks to help replace the 14 starters they lost from the 2025 season.
One of these new additions is return specialist and wide receiver Scoop Smith. Smith comes from Pittsburgh, where he played at Woodland Hills High School. While in high school, Smith dominated his competition.Smith earned All-State honors as a junior and senior and was named Pennsylvania player of the year during those seasons, leading to Smith becoming a three-star recruit.
Smith received 18 offers throughout his time in high school, including from a variety of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools, Mid-American Conference (MAC) schools and the University of Nebraska. Smith ultimately signed with the RedHawks in December of 2025.
Smith came into Miami listed at 5 feet, 5 inches, making him the shortest player in Division I college football. Smith, however, uses his height to his advantage and doesn’t let it affect his game.
“There’s pros and cons of being small,” Smith said. “There’s times people can’t see me because I’m small. There’s times I’m moving faster, people try to break down and I’m smaller to hit, so there’s so many different advantages to it.”
Smith plays receiver for the RedHawks, along with being the primary return man for kickoffs. He has had great success in returning balls for the RedHawks.
This season, Smith returned seven kicks for 258 yards and a touchdown, including a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown on the first play of the Battle for the Victory Bell against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.
Special teams coach Johnny Aylward has worked closely with Smith since his arrival in Oxford.
“He had a really really impressive high school highlight tape, so he was a guy we were excited about,” Aylward said. “They come in all shapes and sizes, but if you can play, you can play.”
Smith has also been used as a slot receiver and a utility man for the offense this season, which has faced many injuries, especially at quarterback.
Smith has hauled in 15 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown and has carried the ball three times for 35 yards and another score.
“I think he’s going to learn from every new experience, whether that’s on the offensive side of the ball [or] on special teams,” Aylward said. “I think he’s going to keep improving in that area, he’s got the right mindset.”
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Smith has received high praises from many of his teammates for the energy and passion he brings to the RedHawk faithful. Whether that is on the field with constant energy and a smile, or in the locker room with the whole team, Smith has been a light on a RedHawk team that has been bugged by injuries.
“He’s a great teammate, a great person all around, you know, and he’s like he’s a little brother to me,” junior receiver Damarion Witten said. “He’s always trying to keep a positive side of things. Like without Scoop, I think there would be a lack of energy and lack of confidence, but I feel like Scoop brings that to the table for all of us.”
Smith is close with many of his teammates. The team is very much connected through him, and his energy in practice and games has a big effect on the rest of the team. This played a role in why Smith chose to attend Miami.
“It’s a very big brotherhood,” Smith said. “I care about my guys in the room; people protect me from somebody just tackling me on the field, and my teammates are right there with me, making sure I’m okay.”
Although Smith is only a freshman, he has his sights set on goals not only for the team to accomplish, but himself as well
“I want to go win the MAC Championship, that’s the main goal,” Smith said. “But just for myself, I want to get better and better every day, every week, every year.”
The shortest player to ever play in the NFL was Deuce Vaughn, a running back from Kansas State University. Vaughn stands at 5 feet, 5 inches. He is the same height as Smith, who hopes to join the league someday and join the group of men who defied the odds of their height and made it to the league.
“I love the game of football, and why I chose it was honestly for my future, where I want to go in life,” Smith said. “I want to go to the NFL.”
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